Upstart True North beach volleyball looking to break through to state’s elite
True North’s beach volleyball team may not be the tallest in the state.
But the Titans try to even the odds with versatility, quickness and experience, which has made them one of the best teams in the state.
While True North still has to contend with some of the top powerhouses in the state including last year’s state runner-up Miami Westminster Christian, defending state champion Tampa Berkeley Prep and others, the Titans feel they have the right mix to make a surprise run in this year’s state playoffs.
True North is off to a 5-0 start, and returns five of its top six players from last season.
The group is led by juniors Veronica Fumero and Natasha Galindo. Fumero was on True North’s top pair last season with graduated starter Samantha Rodriguez.
Adding depth to True North’s lineup are junior Ella Hernandez and senior Leanne Hernandez as well as sophomores Gaby Garcia and Grace Ruiz.
The Titans have already scored wins over Calvary Christian, Florida Christian, Riviera Prep, La Salle and Ferguson.
“I’m really excited about our potential this season and I have faith we can achieve some amazing results,” True North coach Sissy Cantillo said.
The major roadblock in the Titans’ path figures to be Westminster Christian.
In the four years since beach volleyball became a sanctioned sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association, the Warriors have reigned among South Florida teams.
Even last season when the sport split off into three classifications, the Warriors were the team that advanced the furthest from Miami-Dade or Broward Counties.
Westminster remains among the top contenders in the state as, led by seniors Gigi Artiles, Alex Washington, Cassie Thomas, Lia Gonzales and junior Alyana Cadavid, it is off to a 6-1 start.
Other contenders include St. Thomas Aquinas, Cypress Bay, Western and Lourdes Academy.
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St. Brendan is led by the pairs of sophomore Gabrielle Hernandez and junior Kristin Sotolongo, seniors Isabella Quijano and Priscilla Sanchez, junior Charlize Labiste and senior Ella Wirks, and seniors Sophia Travieso and Olivia Lamosa.
Carrollton is led by the pairs of junior Maria Fernanda Bracamontes and freshman Sofia Fernandez, senior Valeria Jimenez Maydon and junior Cristina Cuervo, seniors Ava Halpern and Daniella Rodriguez, and juniors Anika Petricola and Isabella Morris.
